Eighth-grader proves a little goes a long way

Rugby Middle student organizes fundraiser for humane society

By Elizabeth GilbeauxTimes-News staff writer

Published: Saturday, April 6, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, April 5, 2013 at 7:32 p.m.

Megan Huth, an eighth-grader at Rugby Middle in Hendersonville, recently organized a schoolwide fundraiser for the Blue Ridge Humane Society. The idea for the fundraiser sparked from a service project that she decided to take a step further.

During the fundraiser, students at the school donated more than 90 items to the humane society, including canned food, cleaning supplies, kitty liter and rawhide bones.

Megan and her mother prepared a flier asking for needed items, and the fliers were distributed throughout the school and on the school’s TV announcements. Megan also used Facebook and word of mouth.

The teen has been a volunteer at the humane society since February, working from from noon to 3 p.m. every Saturday.

“I just love the animals,” she said, adding that she hopes to pursue a career in helping fish and wildlife.

When she was young, Megan’s parents served as trainers for Southeastern Guide Dogs. They would get puppies at 6 weeks old and had to teach them a list of commands. The dogs were taken to restaurants, stores and public places. At age 1 and a half or 2, the dogs were returned to Southeastern Guide Dogs.

Megan and her family have adopted two dogs from the humane society. One is a three-legged dog named Lady.

The Blue Ridge Humane Society was formed in 1950, and the organization works closely with Henderson County Animal Services to provide secure homes for animals.

In 2011, 409 animals were transferred out of the county shelter, and the humane society found homes for all the animals. In 2012, about 200 animals from the county shelter were transferred out and found homes; the number dropped because the humane society was closed for four months for renovations.

The community can help by volunteering their time and adopting animals, humane society officials said. Adoptions are for people who have the time and knowledge to care for the animals, and who are non-abusive.

Volunteers are needed to walk and mingle with the animals to help them cope with being in the shelter, officials said, and future adoptive families benefit from the time volunteers spend with the dogs and cats. There are volunteers as young as age 5 years who help with their parent’s assistance.

Huth, age 14, can’t wait to turn 16 so that she can walk the dogs, as the society has a rule that a volunteer has to be 16 or older to walk dogs without their parents.

As part of a Community Help Food Bank, the society gives food to those who qualify who are having a hard time feeding their pets.

“What Megan has done is not only a help to the society, but also to the community,” said Lutrelle O’Cain, director of the Blue Ridge Humane Society, adding that she is thankful for everyone who took part in the fundraiser.

<p>Megan Huth, an eighth-grader at Rugby Middle in Hendersonville, recently organized a schoolwide fundraiser for the Blue Ridge Humane Society. The idea for the fundraiser sparked from a service project that she decided to take a step further.</p><p>During the fundraiser, students at the school donated more than 90 items to the humane society, including canned food, cleaning supplies, kitty liter and rawhide bones. </p><p>Megan and her mother prepared a flier asking for needed items, and the fliers were distributed throughout the school and on the school's TV announcements. Megan also used Facebook and word of mouth. </p><p>The teen has been a volunteer at the humane society since February, working from from noon to 3 p.m. every Saturday. </p><p>“I just love the animals,” she said, adding that she hopes to pursue a career in helping fish and wildlife.</p><p>When she was young, Megan's parents served as trainers for Southeastern Guide Dogs. They would get puppies at 6 weeks old and had to teach them a list of commands. The dogs were taken to restaurants, stores and public places. At age 1 and a half or 2, the dogs were returned to Southeastern Guide Dogs.</p><p>Megan and her family have adopted two dogs from the humane society. One is a three-legged dog named Lady.</p><p>The Blue Ridge Humane Society was formed in 1950, and the organization works closely with Henderson County Animal Services to provide secure homes for animals. </p><p>In 2011, 409 animals were transferred out of the county shelter, and the humane society found homes for all the animals. In 2012, about 200 animals from the county shelter were transferred out and found homes; the number dropped because the humane society was closed for four months for renovations.</p><p>The community can help by volunteering their time and adopting animals, humane society officials said. Adoptions are for people who have the time and knowledge to care for the animals, and who are non-abusive. </p><p>Volunteers are needed to walk and mingle with the animals to help them cope with being in the shelter, officials said, and future adoptive families benefit from the time volunteers spend with the dogs and cats. There are volunteers as young as age 5 years who help with their parent's assistance. </p><p>Huth, age 14, can't wait to turn 16 so that she can walk the dogs, as the society has a rule that a volunteer has to be 16 or older to walk dogs without their parents.</p><p>As part of a Community Help Food Bank, the society gives food to those who qualify who are having a hard time feeding their pets.</p><p>“What Megan has done is not only a help to the society, but also to the community,” said Lutrelle O'Cain, director of the Blue Ridge Humane Society, adding that she is thankful for everyone who took part in the fundraiser.</p>